Adjustable chair



J. E. VOELKER ET AL Oct. 28, 1958 I ADJUSTABLE CHAIR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 4, 1951 h l w INVENTORS Oct. 28, 1958 J. E. VOELKER ET AL2,857,954

ADJUSTABLE CHAIR Filed April 4, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 3-! 39 34INVENTORS I l] JHNEE. Vozuzse 32 DWF7D 02- met-a2 5 J'o/m/ m asap/as.

Oct. 28, 1958 J. E. VOELKER EI'AL ADJUSTABLE CHAIR 5 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed April 4, 1951 INVENTORS' JAM/E E. I/OELKEB 1958 J. E. VOELKE'R'ETAL 2,

ADJUSTABLE CHAIR 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 4, 1951 INVENTORS \jfiA/EE VOELKER 501M420 M. l oEL kEE JL /W MK 56 5536 I ATT RNEY United StatesPatent" ADJUSTABLE CHAIR Jane Eleanor Voelker and Edward M. Voelker, NewSalem, Mass., and John W. Sabbagh, Jackson Heights, N. Y., assignors toInventors Enterprises, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation ofNew YorkApplication April 4, 1951, Serial No. 219,137

1 Claim. (Cl. 155-106) This invention relates to chairs wherein a personmay sit in either an upright or reclining position and shift from oneposition to the other at will without leaving the chair.

This application is a continuationdn-part of application Serial No.163,904, filed May 24, 1950, which matured into Patent No. 2,549,869, onApril 24, 1951, and which latter application was a continuation-in-partof application Serial No. 11,118, filed February 26, 1948 (formallyabandoned).

The primary object of this invention is to provide a chair useful inhospitals for disabled veterans. Many of these ex-soldiers are crippledso badly that they cannot sit comfortably in an ordinary chair and whenoccupying conventional hospital chairs haveto be helped when they desireto shift from an upright sitting posture into a reclining position, andvice versa. Most hospital chairs which permit of these two positions areof complicated character, requiring the services of an attendant.

The present invention, in contradistinction, provides a simple,economical and highly sanitary chair, easy to keep clean and capable ofmanipulation into its various positions of adjustment by a personsitting therein without appreciable physical effort.

Chairs adapted to partake of either sitting or reclining positions haveheretofore been suggested, but for one reason or another they have notbeen found satisfactory for hospital use. They are either toocomplicated or they are so hard to manipulate that a cripple or personweakened by illness cannot shift positions without undue exertion. Thechair of the present invention has been found by actual use in hospitalsto meet all requirements of the ill and crippled because of itssimplicity and ease of adjustment. The patient is well adapted to changeposition without harmful effort, for the balance, due to the particularcharacteristics of the construction, is such that the slightest movementon the patients part will bring about the change of posture desired.This balance is accomplished through the particular shaping of the partsand placing of the pivots by which said parts are adapted to articulatefor movement of the patient from a reclining to a sitting position, andvice versa, as will hereinafter be more fully explained.

Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will beapparent from the hereinafter detailed description and appended claim,when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate different practical embodiments ofthe invention, but the constructions therein shown are to be understoodas illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

; Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of primary elementsof the chair of this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the preferred form of chair.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of such chair arranged so as to show thefront and one side thereof. In this view, as in Figure 2, the cushions,with which the chair is ordinarily provided, are omitted.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the chair as viewedfrom the opposite side and illustrating in addition a modified form ofconstruction whereby the chair may be locked in any position ofadjustment.

Figure 5 is a fragmental side elevation of the locking means illustratedin Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a modified form of chair whereina number of the chair parts are formed from bent tubing.

Figures 7 and 8 are fragmental side elevations of parts of the chairshown in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of a chair showing apparatus forelectrically manipulating the chair into difierent positions at the willof the operator.

Figure 10 is a front elevation of the chair of Figure 9 with certainparts omitted in the interest of clearness.

Figure 11 is a plan view of the base panel of the control box housingthe electrical equipment for regulating the chair.

Figure 12 is a fragmental section on the line 12-12 of Figure 11.

Figure 1 of the drawings shows the primary elements of the chair of thisinvention. In this figure,- 1 indicates a seat bar, 2 a tie bar, and 3 asupporting frame having upstanding side members. 4 designates a leg restprovided with a foot rest step 5, and 6 indicates a back rest.

The base frame is provided at its back and intermediate its top andbottom with a forwardly extending bracket 7, while a correspondinglyplaced bracket 8 extends rearwardly from the front portion of the baseframe. The bracket 7 carries near its outer end a pivot 9 while thebracket 8 carries a pivot 10.

The lower portion of the back rest 6 is provided with a forwardlyextending pivot plate 11 below which plate the back rest is curvedforwardly at 17 and is secured at its lower end by a pivot 12 to theseat bar 1. That seat bar extends forwardly and its forward end. isturned up,

at 13, and permanently secured by a pivot 14 to the leg rest 4. Thedistance between the pivots 10 and 14 is the same as the distancebetween the pivots 9 and 12.

The upper portion of the pivot plate 11 forwardly of the back restcarries a pivot 15 to which is secured the rear end of the tie bar 2,while the other end of this tie bar is secured by a pivot 16 to theupper end of the leg rest. The distances between the pivots 10 and 16and the pivots 9 and 15 are the same, but said distances are somewhatless than the distance between the pivots 8 and 14 and 9 and 12. Thefour pivots 12, 15, 16 and 14 are thus placed, in effect, at the fourcorners of a parallelogram,

. although the seat bars 1 are not parallel to the tie bars 2.

It will be noted from Figure 1 that the leg rest 4 is substantiallyparallel to that portion of the back rest above the pivot, but that thelower end of the back rest is curved forwardly at 17 to carry the pivot12. The base frame 3 extends appreciably above the tie bar 2 so as toform an arm rest at the side of the .chair and the upper surface of thisarm may be faced with leather, fibre, wood or any other suitablematerial or padded, as indicated at 18 in Figure 1, so as to be morecomfortable to the user.

It will be understood that the elements shown in Figure 1 are duplicatedfor both sides of the .chair and that corresponding elements are tiedtogether by suitable transverse supports adapted to support the weightof the patient.

When a chair is so constructed, it will support a patient with theweight in remarkable balance so that-the patient may, by the slightesteffort, bring about adjust ment of the chair from a sitting position toa reclining position or to an intermediate position according to hisdesire. The exact reason for this is not fully apparent, but it has beenfound to be true.' The present chair is a result of numerous models anda great many tests and it is made as shown in Figure 1 in the mannerspecified because it is the only arrangement of parts which we havefound to give accurate balance and ease of adjustment. It is for thisreason that it has met with such universal commendation by all who haveused it; I

The preferred formof chair embodying this invention; as shown in Figure1, is shown in Figures 2 and 3. In these figures, the two sides of thebase frame 3 are made of flat metallic strips bent into the shape shownand-they are secured together transversely by braces 19 and 20. Thebraces 19 are straight while the brace 20 is longitudinally curved toclear the patient and the moving parts.

Extending across the leg and back rests are transverse curved braces 21and between the seat bars are curved braces 22. Also across these partsare resilient ribbons 23, the opposite ends of each of which areperforated for attachment with coil springs 24 which hook into holes inthe seat bars, leg rest and back rest. Cushions are laid over theseribbons-which constitute the body supports. These cushions are indicatedin dotted lines by the reference character C. The foot support is shownin Figures 2 and 3 as hinged to the bottom of the leg support 4 and theinclination of this foot support may be regulated by adjustment ofslotted links 25 held in adjustment by bolts 26.

With the chair, as thus far described, the parts are at all times freefor adjustment by the occupant. ever, in Figures 4 and 5 I have shown amodified form of constructionwhereintheparts may be locked in anydesired adjustment. In this showing the back rest 6 is provided at oneside with a fixed pin 27 which projects laterally at the right hand sideof the chair. In this construction the bracket 7 is replaced by a plate7a somewhat larger than the bracket 7 shown in the preceding figures andon this bracket is mounted a pivot 28 which supports a ratchet 29, theslots 30 of which are adapted for cooperation with the pin 27.

To the ratchet is secured a stud 31 projecting through a slot 32 in thebracket plate 7a to permit of pivotal movement of the ratchet into andout of engagement with the pin 27 The stud 31 is connected by a link 33to an operating lever 34.- The lever 34 is pivoted at 35 and it extendsupwardly through a slot formed in the horizontal flange 36 of an anglepiece 37. The slot 38 of this angle piece has formed therein teeth ornotches to lock the lever 34 in either of two positions of adjustment,one that wherein the ratchet is engaged with the pin and the other thatwherein the ratchet is withdrawn from the pin. A compression spring 39coiled around the pivot 35 between the head of the pivot and the lever34 normally holds the lever in engagement with either notch in which itmay bepositioned. The upper end of the lever is provided with a handle40 which'the operator may grasp for the purpose of shifting the lever toengage or disengage the ratchet with the pin. When the ratchet isengaged with the pin, the parts of the chair will be locked in adjustedposition. When disengaged from the pin, the ratchet will permitadjustment of the chair at the will of the occupant.

In the chair of Figures 4 and 5, the leg rest embodies upper and loweradjustable sections 4a and 4!), respectively, so that the rest may beshortened or lengthened to adjust the foot rest to the requirements ofthe occupant. Both of these sections are slotted and bolts 41 are passedthrough the slots to permit the sections to be locked in the desiredposition of adjustment. The chair in these figures, moreover, isprovided with cushions which may be removed for cleaning and replacedthereafter. This chair is also provided with castors 42 so that thechair may be readily rolled from place to place. These castors may beswiveled ornotas desired and they may be provided onall' thechairs ofthis invention, if desired.

In Figures 6-8, the chair is shown as constructed in part from benttubular stock. A chair so constructed is more applicable to uses otherthan hospital use, such as ona porch or patio.- For such use, the stepmay be readiIy dinountable and it is shown in these figures as formedHow- - approved speed reducing gearing.

4 from sheet metal with hooks 43 to detachably hook over. the U-shapedleg rest of thisparticular chair.

The chair shown in Figures 9-11 is the same as that shown in Figures1-5, inclusive, with the exception that the means for locking the chairin its various positions of adjustment is omitted in Figures 9-1l,although it may be incorporated if desired. The chair, however, isadapted to be adjusted by power derived from an electric motor insteadof by power applied by the patient. The structure of the chair of theselatter figures isprimarily intended for use by paralytics, paraplegics,polio patients and other patients who are either too weak to manuallyoperate the chair or are crippled or paralyzed in a manner to make suchoperation impossible or undesirable.

In the showing of Figures 9 and 10, the resilient ribbons 23 and coilsprings 24 of the preceding figures have been omitted in the interest ofclearness, but it will be understood that they are employed as well inthis chair.

In adapting the chair of this invention to electrical operation, thebase frames 3 are preferably stiffened by" gusset braces 45. Supportingbars 46 are secured trans-' versely of the chair across the lowerhorizontal reaches 46a of the base frame and serve to support a controlbox 47'within the frame and below the seat. This control box ispreferably of sheet metal and made so that it may be" readily opened upto expose its contents for maintenance and repair. It is provided with ahorizontal base panel 48 shown in Figure 11. This panel is secured tothe bars 46. On the panel are mounted a storage battery 49', a tricklecharger 5t), and a driving motor 51 having a pulley and belt connection52 with a gear box 53 containing any This speed reducing gearing isadapted to drive a toothed rack 54, guided in any suitable manner tomaintain it in mesh with the driven gear 53a of the gear box, as by ayoke 5312' on the shaft of said gear. The rack extends upwardly, andforwardly through an opening 55 in the front wall of the control box 47,as shown in Figure 10, and is connected by any appropriate pivotalconnection 54a with a cross bar 21a on the leg rest 4 to permit ofarticulation betweenthe rack 54 and the leg rest.

Electric current is adapted to be fed from any suitable source throughan electric cable 56 to the trickle charger so that the battery 49 maybe charged from time to time and permit operation of the motor by thepatient when desired. This motor is of the reversible type and it isprovided with a control cable 57 leading from the motor to a controlswitch 58 which may be mounted in any appropriate position at either theright or left side of the chair. It is shown in the drawings as mountedon the right hand side of the chair and on the under side of the arm,with two push buttons 59 and 59a adapted to respec-. tively control thedirection of rotation of the motor. In addition to control through thecable 57 as described, the motor may have an additional circuit controlcable 60 with a micro switch therein for controlling the motor. Ineither case, the occupant of the chair may cause the motor to rotate ineither direction at will.

When the motor rotates in one direction, it acts through the gear boxand rack to tilt the leg rest 4 in one direction with consequent tiltingof the back rest and movement of the seat in a corresponding direction.Rotation of the motor in the opposite direction may cause a reversal indirection of these movements. Thus, the occupant of the chair may,without any muscular effort whatsoever save that required to press apush button switch, adjust the chair to his particular requirements ordesires. As long as he keeps his finger on the push button, the movementof the parts will continue, within of course the limits oftheirmovement, and when the finger is removed from the push button, themotor will stop and the parts will be locked in position by virtue ofthe intermeshin'g gears of the gear box which preferably include wormand worm wheel elements. It will of cou'rse be understood that anyconventional speed reducing gear box may be employed.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in itspreferred practical form, but the invention is to be understood as fullycommensurate with the appended claim.

Having thus fully described the invention, what we claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A chair comprising: a supporting frame having upstanding side memberslaterally spaced apart and the tops of which constitute stationary armrests, a back rest pivoted in spaced relation to its lower end onsupporting pivots on said frame, a leg rest pivoted in spaced relationto its upper end on supporting pivots also on said frame, tie bars belowthe arm rests with their forward ends pivoted to the upper end of theleg rest and their rear ends pivoted to the back rest, and seat barspivoted at their rear end to the lower end of the back rest with theirforward ends pivoted to the leg rest below the supporting pivots of thelatter, in combination with a locking pin extending laterally from oneside of the back rest, a pivoted pawl mounted on the frame to coact withsaid locking pin, an operating lever on the frame having a linkconnection with said pivoted pawl to move it into and out of engagementwith the locking pin, and means to detachably secure the operating leverin a position to hold the pawl in engagement with the locking pin or ina position to hold said pawl disengaged from said pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS688,443 Siccardi Dec. 10, 1901 993,634 Ashton May 30, 1911 1,329,142Ritter et al Jan. 27, 1920 1,984,397 Dalyze Dec. 18, 1934 2,053,852Tracy Sept. 8, 1936 2,500,741 Taylor Mar. 14, 1950 2,508,109 Glasco May16, 1950 2,541,938 Rideout Feb. 13, 1951 2,549,869 Voelker et al Apr.24, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 711,928 France July 8, 1931

